Pittsfield resident arrives home with break-in under way

PITTSFIELD -- A day after city police warned about five daytime home break-ins this week, a Warwick Street resident's house became the sixth on Thursday.

The homeowner arrived home just before 4 p.m. Thursday and apparently surprised the intruder or intruders who then fled. The woman told police that she opened the front door and heard voices coming from the kitchen. She closed the door, dialed 911 on her cell phone, and waited in the front yard for police to arrive.

Police Lt. Jeffrey Bradford said residents on Noblehurst Avenue, which runs parallel to Warwick, reported seeing someone get into a suspicious car that "didn't belong there" and drive off around the same time. Warwick is a street off Pomeroy Avenue.

"We're on high alert and we will catch them," Bradford said. "This appears to be the same kind of forced entry similar to the other break-ins."

Six officers arrived on scene and a K9 unit to search inside the house and the neighborhood.

It's unclear at this time if there was more than one person in the home, but police said someone broke into the home through a back window and fled through the back door.

Bradford said that it didn't appear anything was stolen this time, but a large flat-screen TV had been taken down from the wall. Other items of value, including a laptop, had been moved.

In the past few weeks, police say there have been at least five other break-ins reported in the southeast section of Pittsfield. In most of the cases, the person or persons broke in through the front or back doors, smashing windows, stealing high-value items such as a 14K gold necklace with a diamond pendant, a blue birthstone ring with two diamonds, a silver and black iPod and a Nintendo Wii and accessories.

Another resident reported an iPad and a Canon camera stolen, but there was no sign of forced entry at their home.

"There's definitely a method to their actions," Bradford said. "Clearly, they were looking for high-end items and broad daylight didn't deter them."

Bradford added that the thieves most likely knock on people's doors to see if anyone is home prior to breaking in. And if someone is home, they'll makeup an excuse for being on their front porch.

Police are urging residents to lock their doors, first-floor windows and their cars. Sturdy, solid-core doors with good frames and locks and security systems were also suggested.

Anyone with information about the break-ins is asked to call the detective bureau at (413) 448-9705.

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